In some instances, you may be able to sue if you signed a valid arbitration agreement. While courts generally favor arbitration agreements, they will allow you to file a lawsuit if either you didn't understand your rights or your claims fall outside the arbitration provision's scope.
What is an arbitration agreement? It's typically a clause in a broader contract in which you agree to settle out of court, through arbitration cases, any dispute that arises with your counterpart.
The insurance companies might choose to let an arbitrator settle the case when negligence and liability are unclear and ardently contested. This could be the case if: There were no witnesses, or they can no longer be located. The evidence is less than compelling.
Arbitration is a contract-based form of binding dispute resolution. In other words, a party's right to refer a dispute to arbitration depends on the existence of an agreement (the “arbitration agreement”) between them and the other parties to the dispute that the dispute may be referred to arbitration.
Arbitration agreements require that persons who signed them resolve any disputes by binding arbitration, rather than in court before a judge and/or jury. What is binding arbitration? Binding arbitration involves the submission of a dispute to a neutral party who hears the case and makes a decision.
An arbitration agreement ensures that certain disputes will go to an arbitrator, instead of court. In other words, you can't file a lawsuit. Generally, most advantages go to the employer. Among these are, no court case. The arbitrator is usually someone with experience in the field of the dispute.
While it is true that arbitration is generally private because the public is excluded from the arbitration hearing, it does not follow that the arbitration proceedings remain confidential.
In a binding arbitration agreement, both parties agree—by contract—that the matter will be resolved by an arbitrator. This means that both parties have agreed to using arbitration should an insurance dispute arise. And, once the arbitrator makes a decision, this is the final judgment that will stand.
If the dispute involves sensitive information, arbitration provides a confidential setting where details are not disclosed to the public.
Arbitrators and mediators also play an important role in protecting personal confidential information. They have a duty to: Keep confidential all information obtained in connection with an arbitration or mediation. Transport and store, of case materials in a manner that preserves the confidentiality of the information.